Government

An analysis of Lancaster County voting in Tuesday’s congressional election shows that the most rural precincts and the fast-growing Panhandle went strongly for Republican Ralph Norman, and the greater Lancaster area swung hard for Democrat Archie Parnell.
Norman won the day overall in the county – 55 percent to 44 percent – helped by the expected huge turnout in Sun City Carolina Lakes, which had more than twice as much voter turnout as the whole county, at 41 percent.

KERSHAW – For the first time ever, the budget for the town of Kershaw will top $4 million next fiscal year.
The current budget, which runs through June 30, is $3.9 million.
As unanimously passed by town council Wednesday night, the 2017-18 budget raises the property tax millage rate to 82 mills from 77 mills in the current budget.

Lancaster City Council passed first reading of its $33.9 million fiscal 2017-18 budget Tuesday.
The vote was 6-0, with council member Tamara Green Garris absent due to an out-of-state family commitment.
As written, the proposed budget raises the property tax millage rate to 178.5 from 176.4 in the current budget. The millage increase means an $8.40 property tax increase on a home in the city valued at $100,000 and assessed at 4 percent.

Voters in the 5th Congressional District can cast absentee votes now or wait until the special election Tuesday, June 20, to replace Indian Land’s Mick Mulvaney in the U.S. House.
Mulvaney’s seat became open when President Donald Trump appointed him director of his Office of Budget and Management.
The candidates on the special election ballot will be:
◆ Libertarian Victor Kocher
◆ David Kulma with the Green Party
◆ Republican Ralph Norman
◆ Democrat Archie Parnell
◆ Josh Thornton with the American Party

SCETV forum tonightSouth Carolina ETV will broadcast a 5th District candidate forum at 7:30 tonight featuring Democrat Archie Parnell, Republican Ralph Norman, David Kulma of the Green Party and Josh Thornton of the American Party. The moderator is Charles Bierbauer, dean of USC’s College of Information and Communications and a former CNN correspondent.

Party: Democrat.
Age: 66.
Residence: Sumter.
Family: Wife, Sarah. Daughters, Julia and Lydia.
Education: Graduated from Edmunds High School in Sumter in 1968. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina in 1971 and his law degree from USC in 1974.
Employment: Retired. Worked as a senior adviser on tax law for the Wall Street financial firm Goldman Sachs.
Civic involvement: Treasurer at St. Stephen’s Chapel (Anglican), 2003-07.
Political experience: None.
Top issues:

Party: Republican.
Age: 63.
Residence: Rock Hill.
Family: Elaine R. Norman, wife of 42 years, whose family is from Lancaster. They have a son, three daughters and 15 grandchildren.
Education: Graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1971. Received bachelor’s degree in business from Presbyterian College in 1975.
Employment: President, Warren Norman & Co., real estate development firm.